By Brian Atuhura
In abid to allow the future generations embrace wild life,the Principal Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (PACAO), Masindi,has emplored all stakeholders to support the protection of the bio-diversity such that the flora and fauna can be conserved for the next generation to enjoy wildlife and the forest cover within the protected areas.
He said that, conserving wildlife and also natural forests will enable the children learn their value especially the medical tree species.
He was speaking to stakeholders today, during a meeting to discuss the management plan for the Murchison Falls Conservation area that was held at the district headquarters.
While making a presentation on the areas of the management plan, Raymond Kato,an Ecologist working with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA),said they have constructed elephant trenches along the protected areas with also electric fences but these have been destroyed partly by the elephants and largely by the cattle farmers and porchers who force them selves into the park.
He emphasized that, there is need to sensitize the communities near the protected areas not to destroy the fences since they protect their plantations.
He also said,the communities need to diversify on crops they plant and embrace high yielding crops like garlic which can't be eaten by the wild animals.
The stakeholders proposed for increament of the revenue share for Masindi and also move to capital projects instead of livelihood projects which have over time not yielded economic value for communities since many of them sell the animals.
The Secretary for Production who represented the District Chairperson, Geoffrey Kiiza Bigabwa called upon UWA to fast truck the compensation of the communities whose crops were destroyed by elephants and other animals.